Comparison

SPOT Connect vs Earthmate

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SPOT Connect

This app enables satellite messaging from remote locations by pairing with a dedicated device. Send custom messages, location coordinates, and emergency alerts via satellite to contacts worldwide. Track progress and share your journey with loved ones.

Highlights
  • Satellite messaging
  • GPS location sharing
  • SOS emergency alerts
  • Custom message composition
  • Automated track progress
  • Predefined messages
  • Contact group management
Features
Read full description

The SPOT Connect App pairs the iPhone, iPad or iPod touch with SPOT Connect, a revolutionary satellite messenger engineered to transmit messages via satellite from virtually anywhere in the world, including remote locations. The award-winning SPOT Connect device provides connectivity to the Globalstar satellite network for sending location-based messages from areas beyond cellular phone coverage or around town. By simply downloading the SPOT Connect App, SPOT Connect wirelessly synchs via Bluetooth® with Apple® iOS devices. The SPOT satellite message features are initiated directly from the app’s intuitive user interface. SPOT Connect utilizes proven SPOT technology to notify others of one’s GPS location coordinates and current status. By sending a message to the Globalstar satellite network, the user’s selected contacts will receive a custom Type and Send or Predefined message delivered as an SMS text message or email. SPOT Connect messages contain the user’s latitude and longitude, date, time stamp and a link to maps. Established SPOT message features include Check-in/OK, Help, SPOT Assist, SOS and automated Track Progress. SPOT Connect messaging feature overview: •SOS - Emergency assistance request sent with your GPS location to GEOS every 5 min until batteries die or until cancelled. The GEOS International Emergency Response Center alerts the appropriate agencies worldwide – for example contacting 9-1-1 responders in North America and 1-1-2 responders in Europe. Custom Type & Send messages can be sent with SOS for detailed emergency information. •Help/SPOT Assist* - Request help from friends and family or professional service providers every 5 min for 1 hour. Custom Type & Send messages can be sent with a Help/Assist message for more detailed personal help. * SPOT Assist subject to availability. •Check-in/OK - Send a Predefined Message or custom Type & Send message allowing your friends and family to get a message from you with your GPS location virtually anywhere on the globe. With a push of a button a message is sent via email or SMS to a contact group. You can also send your Check-in/OK messages to social sites like Facebook or Twitter. •Track Progress - This feature allows you to send and save your location and allow contacts to track your progress in near real time using maps. With your SPOT account you have the ability to set up a SPOT Shared Page which allows you to show your SPOT GPS locations to others on a map. (Additional service required). The SPOT Connect App extends the functionality of Apple® devices while making available new features for customers. Custom messages can now be composed and sent on-the-go. Users can store up to 14 Predefined messages and 10 personal contract groups consisting of up to 50 contacts each. Additionally, the SPOT Connect App turns devices like iPod touch or iPad Wi-Fi into a satellite messenger utilizing SPOT Connect’s onboard GPS and satellite transmitter. Users can even send location-based messages to Facebook and Twitter from isolated regions such as mountainous terrain and areas off-shore. Overview: • Uses the GPS satellite system to determine location and the Globalstar satellite network to transmit that information to personal contacts or an international emergency response center • Send location-based messages via satellite to others delivered as SMS text or email • Send custom “Type and Send” 41 character text messages from your location • Update social networks including Facebook and Twitter from remote locations • Provide GPS functionality to non-GPS devices • Store up to 10 predefined messages for quick reference and sending • Store 10 contact groups on device – each group can consist of up to 50 contacts • On device SOS button for standalone emergency operation • Bluetooth wireless connection Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life.

About

Earthmate

Connect your satellite communicator to your mobile device for text messaging, navigation, and trip planning. Access offline maps, track your location, and share your adventures globally. Stay connected and safe on any outdoor expedition.

Highlights
  • Send/receive text messages
  • Offline topographic maps
  • Waypoint and route navigation
  • Tracking and location sharing
  • Trip logging and planning
  • Cloud storage for trips
  • Control inReach device features
Read full description

Pair your inReach® satellite communication device with the Earthmate® app to get all the features you need to send and receive text messages, navigate and stay connected during your outdoor adventures. It’s perfect for planning, tracking and sharing your trip anywhere around the globe. This Garmin application lets you access¹: • Unlimited topographic maps that you can cache on your device and store for offline use, including topographic maps and quad sheets • Aerial imagery • Hybrid maps • Waypoints and route navigation • Tracking and location sharing • High-detail GPS trip logging • Unlimited cloud storage of routes, waypoints and tracks • Online trip planning • Control and access all the features of your inReach device from the app: send 2-way custom or preset text and email messages, trigger an SOS from anywhere in the world, track your location and more By pairing your mobile device (via Bluetooth® technology) with inReach, the Earthmate app turns your mobile device into a true satellite communication, GPS navigation and safety tool. To access the 100% global Iridium® satellite network for live tracking and messaging – including SOS capabilities – from the Earthmate app, an inReach device with active satellite subscription is required. You can plan your adventures from your account on the Garmin Explore™ website, wirelessly sync them to your smartphone or tablet, and then save all your trip data and maps with unlimited cloud storage. With the use of the LiveTrack™ feature, loved ones can follow your location in real time² and see data such as distance, time and elevation. Learn more about inReach devices and technology at www.garmin.com/inreach. Continued use of GPS running in the background can dramatically decrease battery life. Don't forget to stop tracking. ¹Access varies by model. ²When used with your compatible smartphone and the Earthmate® app or when used with your compatible inReach-enabled Garmin device.

Screenshots

SPOT Connect4 screens
Earthmate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Earthmate at 2.7 against SPOT Connect's 1.0. Earthmate also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (272 vs 4). SPOT Connect's advantage is iOS requirement (6.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Earthmate holds the better App Store score, 2.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Earthmate has 272 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 28% of SPOT Connect's written reviews are positive against 22% of Earthmate's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SPOT Connect ships an update every 6 months, Earthmate monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SPOT Connect versus Earthmate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSPOT ConnectEarthmate
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (4 ratings)2.7 (272 ratings) — better
Positive reviews28.2% of reviews — better21.6% of reviews
Number of ratings4272 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS6.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB92 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperSPOT LLCGarmin

Customer experience

SPOT Connect

All ratings4 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews71 reviews
Positive28.2%
Neutral14.1%
Negative57.7%

Earthmate

All ratings272 ratings
Positive33.1%
Neutral15.1%
Negative51.8%
Written reviews153 reviews
Positive21.6%
Neutral19.0%
Negative59.5%

Bugs and requests

SPOT Connect

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Earthmate

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Invisible text fields
  • Disappearing waypoints and tracks
  • Inability to send preset messages from app
  • Incorrect wind speed display
  • Broken map downloads

Requested features

5 requests
  • Apple Watch integration
  • Customizable preset messages
  • Improved map detail and customization
  • Seamless sync between app and device
  • Frequent message check intervals

In-app purchases

None

SPOT Connect

No in-app purchases

None

Earthmate

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SPOT Connect free?
SPOT Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Earthmate free?
Earthmate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, SPOT Connect or Earthmate?
Earthmate is rated higher. SPOT Connect averages 1.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Earthmate averages 2.7 from 272 ratings.
Do SPOT Connect or Earthmate have ads?
Neither SPOT Connect nor Earthmate shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SPOT Connect or Earthmate?
SPOT Connect ships an update every 6 months, and Earthmate monthly. Most recently, SPOT Connect was updated on October 15, 2026 and Earthmate on October 19, 2026.

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